11:02 a.m., November 7th, Saturday, 106 PH (Post Hoopa Event). Day 151.
Events: Rhea and the girls are on a Badge Hunt, trying to get all the Kanto Encrusted Badges before time runs out! Our girl started her journey on the 9th of June, and the registration deadline for the Winter Indigo Cup is December 5th (27 days away).
Rhea felt the shift in the locker room before she saw it amidst the throng of chatty women. She looked up, brow furrowing as she prepared to enter the stage—Amira’s Aura.
On the surface, she was as calm and elegant as ever, drawing new attention. Beneath the surface, there was an uncertain-certainty. It felt almost paradoxical, swirling emotion—distress, firmness, fear, determination, anger, hope.
The redhead stepped through the far entrance, posture perfect, her passive smile exactly where it should be. Amber strode beside her, sassy, with fire flaring from her ears.
But Rhea knew better.
Nova’s ears folded down, pink eyes shifting between them as a woman in her thirties smothered her with love. Her other Pokemon sent internal inquiries, yet Rhea quelled their worries.
Something happened… No, don’t bug Amber about it. Just be supportive. She probably slipped away to talk to her grandpa. If she wants to… Hmm?
Rhea’s chest tightened, and her mind drifted away from the thought as she watched her teammate navigate through the crowd of Silver-tier challengers. The moment Amira locked eyes with her, there was a flash in her Aura and a crease in her ruby eyes.
Then it was gone, smoothed over like glass.
It…was about me? That makes sense. Amira would try to get real information about what is happening behind the scenes in the League. Was it bad?
No. Maybe I’m reading too much into it.
She brushed her blonde braid over her shoulder and put on her best smile.
Just act normal and support her!
“Lori seems to be running good interference,” Amira noted, reaching their corner where Lori was fending off autograph requests with theatrical indignation. “Did I miss any upset?”
Got it. We’re focusing on the battle.
“Just Lori trying to auction off my hair clips,” Rhea replied with a light laugh. “Apparently, there’s a market. I said I could just tell everyone where my aunt buys them—”
“No! You’re so easy-going, Sunshine! There’s a market for your hairpin!” Lori protested, spinning away from a particularly persistent fan. “Do you know how much your aunt’s sold for last year? I’m just being entrepreneurial!”
“Yeah, but…” Rhea forced a smile, pulling her braid around to look at the item at the end of the long tail. “My aunt gave that away for free, too.”
“Because your aunt’s freaking loaded!”
A shift in energy came from the TVs; the low hum of the stadium, vibrating faintly through the concrete above them, came from over eighty thousand live spectators.
A few gulps followed, shoulders tightening as the women turned to the wide angles on the screens. The commentators’ hype drummed up Rhea’s name, her previous battles flashing past in rapid succession.
Wow… So much has changed over the last several months. I can’t believe we’re here.
“Rhea Everhart is opening, folks! Please prepare yourselves. Get your food and drinks now! The three-minute counter starts now!”
Amira’s laugh was genuine, if quieter than usual, as she broke the tense moment. She moved closer, and Rhea felt the warmth of her hand brush against her wrist—brief, fierce, deliberate as the timer hit and everything came into focus.
“I don’t think we need to worry about funds with the plushy deal I made, Lori,” she whispered, getting a pout from the violet-haired girl that said more credits were always good. “And, Rhea, show my grandfather and the world what you’re made of.”
The words landed hard as she grabbed her wrist and pulled the redhead into a surprised, breathless hug. “Thanks for always looking out for me, Amira! You’ve got a heart of gold.”
“…Of course. I should be thanking you, Rhea. But I know you’ll just say we’re a team.”
Lori jumped in to sandwich Rhea. “Right? What about me?”
“You too, Lori!”
That got a few smiles and pictures from the other women, mostly the older ones who were cooing about friendship built through travel.
The intercom’s clinical announcement cut through the noise, and suddenly the locker room’s attention shifted like a tide. Eyes turned. Whispers erupted. Someone in the back shouted encouragement, only to be drowned out by nervous speculation on whether she’d use Lulu.
Naturally, her ‘evil’ little cosmic puff ball was dancing among adoring girls, a sharp change from how she had been treated before. Still, a few women lingered near the back, arms folded, eyes flicking toward the corners of the room—watching, as if something might tear through reality again.
Nova’s chirp pulsed through their bond as she wiggled out of a disappointed woman’s arms to run to her side. The Eevee hopped up on two legs, pressing her paws against Rhea’s knee, ears pricked forward, tail raised.
Yeah, we’ve got this.
Alice bounded to her side, the Lopunny performing a dazzling flip over a few excited women. A little Buneary of another trainer was watching her as if she were a goddess. Alice’s bright pink irises were shining with excitement; she’d been preparing for this since Erika.
“Alright.” Rhea took a breath, centering herself as she broke away from her team. She looked at Amira one more time, showing a supportive smile. “You’ll do great.”
The redhead glanced down at Amber with a short sigh. Mariah was shy as ever, hiding behind her trainer’s leg, but her eyes were on Rhea.
“Whatever happens, it’s what I need. Win or lose… We’re here to learn.”
Rhea’s head tilted slightly, catching Lulu in her arms as the girl jumped into it.
That’s…a really different mindset. Huh. I don’t know if that’s good or bad.
“Yeah. I think you’re right. Nothing ever goes as planned! We just have to do our best.”
“That’s our Honey Tree!” Lori cheered, Terri mirroring her fist bump.
Rhea gave them one last grin and turned toward the competitor’s tunnel, her Pokemon returning to their balls one by one. Mya’s jaw set with determination as she gave her a thumbs up, making Rhea giggle. Shae reappeared from beneath her braid, having been hiding the whole time; that sparked a lot of chatter about her having a new Pokemon.
Soon, only Lulu remained in her arms, pronouncing their victory…or giving another villain speech. It could go either way with the cute Cosmog.
The tunnel entrance loomed ahead. Where Blaine’s approach had been heat and chaos, rising pressure and explosive sound, Giovanni’s tunnel felt like sinking into deep water. Each step carried Rhea farther from the warm locker room into a claustrophobic place.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Here we go, girls. Break a leg!
The walls were smooth concrete, unmarked except for the thin green lines that pulsed along the floor like veins. The air grew cooler with every meter, carrying a sterile scent—clean stone, recycled atmosphere, the faint mineral tang of earth. The sound from the tens of thousands of spectators fell to below a whisper.
It’s…really quiet.
No muffled crowd roar. No distant music. Just the echo of her own footsteps.
“Ne! Ne. Ne-ne. Neee!”
Rhea giggled, hugging her villainous girl tighter. “Yeah, if you look at it like that, we’re the final boss of the episode. Let’s bring that boss energy!”
“Nee!”
The tunnel curved down now in a gradual spiral; it was kind of disorienting in a weird psychological way. Lulu’s eccentric laughs and internal monologue kept her snickering inside, though. It slowly gave way to her research and a specific battle.
Giovanni’s Bronze matches—the one she’d seen when she first came to Viridian. The way his Diglett had carved tunnels throughout the battle created a subterranean maze that grew more complex with each fight. The motion sensors and miniature cameras tracked every movement underground.
The tunnel leveled out, and ahead, she saw it: a massive set of doors, easily four meters tall, carved from what looked like solid granite. The Viridian Gym’s emblem was etched into the stone—the stone-coated feather, representing the duality of earth: immovable foundation and relentless freedom.
A soft chime echoed through the corridor.
“Ladies and gentlemen… May I introduce our first challenger—the Legend holder, daughter of Christie Everhart, and niece of Champion Cynthia… Rhea Everhart!”
The doors began to slide apart, and light spilled through—not the blazing assault of Blaine’s volcano, but something more measured. Amber and gold, filtered through what must have been thousands of suspended crystals, casting the space beyond in a warm, almost sacred glow.
Rhea stepped through into Viridian Underground Stadium—a cathedral carved from the bones of the earth—the space opened before her in a massive bowl, descending in tiered rings toward a central arena that seemed impossibly far below.
Eighty thousand seats rose around her in concentric circles, climbing toward a ceiling lost in shadow—and every single one was filled.
The crowd didn’t roar. They hummed, a low vibration of anticipation that Rhea felt in her chest more than heard as her Gym battles replayed—Forrest, her first loss, Saria Surge, Misty, Janine, Sabrina, Erika, and Blaine.
Emerald silk Viridian banners hung between ancient fossils, amber light catching the bones of giant Pokemon compared to all but Champion-tier.
The battlefield itself was a circle of raw earth, perhaps fifty meters across, ringed by a shallow trench filled with fine sand.
No lava. No steam vents. No obvious hazards.
Just cold, hard stone.
Rhea descended a set of wide granite steps toward the challenger’s platform, a raised dais at the arena’s edge. And directly across from her was the Rocket CEO himself.
Giovanni sat not in an elevated booth but in an extravagant dais formed into the marble walls—a private viewing box carved directly into the stone.
Chair black and gold, encrusted with emeralds that caught the light like cold fire, he watched in that stoic, controlled way. A giant Persian beside him, observing her with an elegant glare that said she wasn’t strong enough to carry the world.
Giovanni crossed his legs, slim-fit white jacket with black trim shifting with his movements within the holographic display. He was large as life, standing above the quiet throng, judging her from on high.
Beside him was Matori, his assistant—a severe-looking woman with purple hair pulled back in a tight bun. She stood at his opposite shoulder, occasionally leaning down to murmur something into his ear, a tablet held in her hand.
Geeta, bringing a ton of Paldea Pokémon makes this so nerve-racking! she internally laughed to her team. I have no clue what he’ll use. Maybe I should use the Gym Database. It won’t tell us all their exact Moves, Abilities, or battle style, but should give general information.
A massive holographic display flickered to life to his sides. Stats scrolled beneath—her win record, her team composition, highlights from Blaine’s battle.
Then, it showed his stats.
GIOVANNI
Viridian City Gym Leader
Ground-Type Grandmaster
Season Record: 1,473 - 0
Rhea’s throat went dry.
Yeah, that’s an intimidating record. And he just puts it out there.
“Neee!”
Rhea rubbed the Cosmog’s head, still showing a smile as the announcer went totally silent, giving the former mob boss the stage.
We’re no slouches, too.
“Welcome.”
Giovanni’s voice cut through the stadium’s hum, amplified but not shouted. His tone was the same a mob boss might use to greet a distant acquaintance at a formal dinner—polite, measured, fundamentally threatening.
“The Silver Bracket begins now. As this marks the transition from preliminary challenges to substantive competition, I will be adjusting the format accordingly for your group alone, Rhea.”
Rhea forced a smile as her hologram materialized across from him for all to see, and her platform was lifted into the stadium. “I figured as much. Gotta keep a girl on her toes!”
Chuckles rippled through the throng. She even saw the slightest tilt upward of the boss’ mouth, firm jaw more defined. Matori leaned in with a roll of her eyes, whispering to him.
“…Today’s challenge is set for Standard Silver, singles matches with two Pokemon each,” Giovanni continued, rising from his chair with fluid grace to stand at the dais’ edge. “I believe a more comprehensive test is warranted. How will you respond?”
The crowd stirred, whispers oscillating through the stands.
“Oh. You want me to respond. Uh…” She cleared her throat and placed her Poke Balls into the console, Lulu jumping onto the evaluation area with a puff of her chest. “I think that could be fun! How about… Doubles? And let’s up the stakes! Three Pokemon.”
She grinned, feeling her heart beat faster as she looked at Lulu, then back at the Gym Leader, knowing her family was no doubt watching—her parents were probably hiding in the crowd somewhere.
“One backup. I know you have some new Paldea blood to show off. I’m excited! Maybe I’ll use Lulu. Maybe I won’t! Keep you on your toes.”
That prompted a controlled smile from the man, his hands clasped behind his back as his dark eyes wandered the stadium; the energy rose in a slow torrent. Matori pressed her glasses higher, hiding her eyes behind the reflection as she studied her. The Persian rose to join Giovanni, interest now in his gaze.
The Rocket boss looked at her shimmering Pokemon power scaling as the machine fed it to the crowd, and they cheered. He waited until it died down before looking back at her, chin raised, lips curled slightly.
“Every action in this world bears a consequence, young lady. Yet, I like your confidence. Gold-Three. You qualify for that with Lulu. I will confirm one last time. Do you accept that standard?”
She looked at Lulu. Her puffy girl was fanning her face with her fluff, giggling softly, as if the hero had challenged her dominion. Rhea grinned and looked up.
“We accept.”
Giovanni nodded once, a gesture of acknowledgment rather than approval. Yet, unlike other Gym Leaders she’d battled, no panel lifted out of the dais to present him with suitable options. Instead, he reached into his heart-side pocket and extracted two Poke Balls.
“Show me what your family name has come to represent, Ms. Everhart. I see your family fire burning in your eyes. Prove my intuition correct.”
Rhea took a breath, reached forward, and pulled two Poke Balls out of the slots.
Pulling them up, she kissed Nova and Alice’s capsules.
You’re up, girls… Let’s show Amira her grandpa isn’t unbeatable!
The announcer’s voices echoed in unison as the energetic tones broke the silence; every spectator’s breath held.
“This is what Viridian is about!”
“We’ve upgraded stages, folks!”
“Three Vs. three!”
“Double Battle is set!”
“Rocket Vs. Everhart!”
“Champion Cynthia is no doubt watching.”
“History in the making!”
“Ready your Pokemon!”
“Choose!”
“Your.”
“Pokemon!”
Rhea threw back her arm and launched Alice first, Nova flying out next as spikes of earth ripped up through the stadium at random. Giovanni’s casual flick of both balls was as controlled as his smile.
“So it begins.”
The Eevee bounded onto the earthen field, her paws sinking slightly into the suddenly loose soil as jagged rock exploded upward feet away. Alice followed with a graceful leap, landing on a protrusion and launching forward without a moment’s hesitation.
Two flashes of light struck the opposite side of the arena floor, Rhea’s hand ready and smacking the identification button. Only…she knew both the moment they appeared, and the announcer’s shouted the same words mumbled from her shocked lips.
“Alpha, the ! Bunny on Rabbit action, ladies and gentlemen!”
“And the elegant Ms. Kestel, the !”
Rhea’s wide eyes shot to the Pokedex info—fully visible, their careers full and tracked.
Gold-One… Oh, Muk. This could be bad…
Her grin immediately returned as Alice blurred to meet her rabbit counterpart.
But we’re here for it. Let’s go!
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